CISA Announces Transfer of the .gov Top-Level Domain from U.S. General Services Administration

 

CISA Announces Transfer of the .gov Top-Level Domain from U.S. General Services Administration
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is announced that starting April 27, CISA has taken over management of the .gov top-level domain, a milestone required within 120 days of enactment of the DOTGOV Act of 2020.

.gov is moving to CISA

MARCH 8, 2021ANCHOR LINK FOR: MARCH 8 2021

.gov exists so that the online services of bona fide U.S.-based government organizations are easy to identify on the internet. Increasing and normalizing its use helps the public know where to find official government information – and where not to.

For those that use it, .gov is critical infrastructure: it’s central to the availability and integrity of thousands of online services relied upon by millions of users. Since it underpins communication with and within these institutions, all aspects of .gov’s administration have cybersecurity significance.

What’s happening nowAnchor link for: whats happening now

Because of this, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will be the new policy and management authority for the .gov top-level domain (TLD), assuming governance from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). This is happening under the DOTGOV Act of 2020, legislation that was part of the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. For more than 20 years, GSA has supported government organizations and worked to make .gov a trusted space. CISA is committed to that aim, too. We’ll be good stewards of the program GSA created and .gov’s shared infrastructure, and we thank the dedicated public servants at GSA for their work.

For current .gov registrants, the transfer won’t impact use of the .gov registrar, which is where domains are managed, renewed, and where new domains can be requested. GSA and CISA are working together to ensure a seamless transition in day-to-day operations, which will be finalized by late April.

What’s happening nextAnchor link for: whats happening next

In the coming months and years, CISA intends to provide a user-centered platform for DNS management, help government organizations maintain better awareness of the security threats their .gov systems are exposed to, and offer additional services to support the privacy, reliability, accessibility, and speed of .gov domains.

The DOTGOV Act reports Congress’ finding that “the .gov internet domain should be available at no cost or a negligible cost” to U.S.-based government organizations. CISA is working on this – and we ask for your patience. The way .gov domains are priced is tied closely with the service contract to operate the TLD, and change in the price of a domain is not expected until next year. The Act also contemplates the use of Homeland Security Grants for “migrating any online service” to .gov, a process we will work out with FEMA.

.gov holds a unique place in internet history, and we couldn’t be more excited to honor and build on that legacy. If you’re from the government, we’re here to help:

• To obtain a .gov domain, check out dotgov.gov.
• If you’re a U.S.-based government organization, we want to hear what you’d like to see in .gov and what challenges we can help resolve: email us at dotgov@cisa.dhs.gov.

Pathways Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) Now Accepting Applications May 2021

 

 

	Pathways Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) Now Accepting Applications
	The U.S. Department of State is currently accepting applications for the Pathways Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP). Visit USAJOBS to start the online application process and view the following vacancy announcement numbers. These vacancy announcements will be open from May 12 to May 17, 2021 or when the application cutoff limit has been reached for each position. Each vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions is met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opens, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. Veterans’ preference regulations apply.
	Title Series USAJOBS No. Location Cutoff Student Trainee (General Mathematics and Statistics) 01599 GS-07:HRSC/PATH-2021-0027 Washington, DC 50 Student Trainee (General Mathematics and Statistics) 01599 GS-09:HRSC/PATH-2021-0028 Washington, DC 50
	Student Trainees work closely with the U.S. diplomats and Civil Service professionals who carry out America’s foreign policy initiatives. To witness and participate in U.S. foreign policy formulation and implementation, consider the Pathways Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) with the U.S. Department of State. ITEP participants are on temporary appointments that allow for seasonal employment (during summers and holiday breaks from academic program) as well as year-round employment should their academic programs allow.  These appointments are limited to a year or less with possibility for extensions in one-year increments. This will be determined at the time of selection. If you have any questions or would like to search for topics of interest, please contact Pathways@state.gov or visit our forums or FAQs at careers.state.gov.
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	U.S. citizenship required. An equal opportunity employer.

An Open Letter from 72 Pastors. Washington, D.C. May 2021

 

Read the full letter here!

Deficiencies Related to Multiple Homicides at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia 05/10/2021

Care and Oversight Deficiencies Related to Multiple Homicides at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia 05/10/2021 08:00 PM EDT   The VA Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Office of Investigations was contacted by the Facility Director in June 2018 who reported concerns related to the suspicious deaths of nine patients from profound hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). A criminal investigation was initiated. The OIG Office of Healthcare Inspections immediately commenced a parallel healthcare inspection. Healthcare inspectors finalized their evaluation after OIG investigators completed the criminal case. On July 14, 2020, Reta Mays, a former nursing assistant, pled guilty to seven counts of second degree murder and one count of assault with the intent to commit murder by deliberately administering insulin to eight patients. The OIG found that the facility had serious clinical and administrative failures, including hiring and medication security practices, communication of clinical information, and patient safety deficiencies that contributed to Ms. Mays’s criminal actions not being identified and stopped earlier. The OIG made three recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health related to adjudicator follow-up of unreturned background investigation documentation, rescue medication security and management, and mortality data analyses. Two recommendations were made to the Veterans Integrated Service Network Director to conduct management reviews of the care of patients discussed in this report and a broader evaluation of patients who may have been harmed in other ways by Ms. Mays’s actions. Ten recommendations were made to the Facility Director related to the Pharmacy Service’s inventory accountability, endocrinology consults, clinical communication expectations, clinical documentation reviews, clinical care-related reporting expectations, patient safety event training, interdisciplinary mortality workgroup activities, oversight and reporting, and a culture of safety. This service is provided to you at no charge by Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Application Period for Preparedness Grants Closes May 14

 

FEMA BULLETIN Week of May 10, 2021 View as Webpage | Subscribe  In this Edition: FEMA Seeks Public Feedback for Programs FEMA Updates COVID-19 Food and Nutrition Roadmap FEMA Seeks Feedback for Resource Typing Application Period for Preparedness Grants Closes May 14 Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders Important Dates & Reminders Exercise Starter Kit Webinar FEMA Seeks Public Feedback for Programs   FEMA is seeking public comments for programs that deal with climate change and underserved populations.   FEMA posted in the Federal Register a Request for Information on programs, regulations and policies. The feedback will assist FEMA in identifying specific action that will better address climate change and underserved communities and populations. The comment period will be open through June 21.   President Joseph R. Biden issued three executive orders, 13985, 13990 and 14008, requiring agencies to assess programs to determine the following:   If agency programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups. If additional agency actions are required to bolster resilience to climate change. If agency programs, policies and activities address the disproportionately high and adverse climate-related impacts on disadvantaged communities.   Comments can be submitted through June 21 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket ID: FEMA-2021-0011. Please follow the instructions on the page and contact the Regulations.gov Help Desk if you have technical issues.   FEMA encourages public comment and responses to these questions. For additional information on the request for information, visit FEMA.gov.  FEMA Updates COVID-19 Food and Nutrition Roadmap   FEMA updated the COVID-19 Food and Nutrition Resource Roadmap to assist state, local, tribal and territorial partners with the unprecedented challenges associated with food and nutrition support during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the CARES Act, version 2.0 of the roadmap includes resources that were identified in the Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act.   These roadmaps are part of a series that FEMA developed last year to assist state, local, tribal and territorial partners in identifying potential sources of funding and other resources to assist with the pandemic recovery.   The five roadmaps, food and nutrition, housing, healthcare, education and economic recovery were developed in partnership with nearly 30 federal interagency partners, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Commerce. Each roadmap identifies potential solutions to address specific challenge areas and describes how supplemental and certain annual appropriated funds can be used to implement recovery solutions.   All of the COVID-19 Resource Roadmaps can be found on FEMA.gov. FEMA Seeks Feedback for Resource Typing   The FEMA National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on six resource typing documents. The 30-day national engagement period will conclude at 5 p.m. ET on June 10.   The national engagement period provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft document to ensure that it is relevant for all implementing partners.   The resource typing documents include: Structural collapse search team. Structural collapse search team leader. Structural collapse search technician. Structural collapse rescue team. Structural collapse rescue team leader. Structural collapse rescue technician.   These resource typing documents will facilitate the sharing of deployable resource types at all jurisdictional levels. To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form on FEMA.gov and submit the form to fema-nims@fema.dhs.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on June 10. Application Period for Preparedness Grants Closes May 14   The application period for six competitive preparedness grant programs, with $500 million available in funding, will close at 5 p.m. ET on May 14.   Part of the DHS Preparedness Grants portfolio, the grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.   Preparedness grants improve the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. The grants reflect the Department’s focus on funding for programs that address our nation’s immediate security needs and ensure public safety in our communities.   The application period closes at 5 p.m. on May 14 for the following six competitive programs, which will be awarded this summer:   Operation Stonegarden Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program Nonprofit Security Grant Program Port Security Grant Program Transit Security Grant Program Intercity Bus Security Grant Program   The funding notices for all preparedness grant programs can be found at grants.gov and FEMA.gov. Final submissions must be made through the non-disaster grants system.   Further information on DHS’s preparedness grant programs is available at DHS.gov. Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders FEMA Hosts Exercise Starter Kit Webinars   FEMA’s National Exercise Division has developed exercise starter kits with sample documents to assist organizations in planning and conducting tabletop exercises aligning with the updated National Exercise Program 2021-2022 Principal's Strategic Priorities.   FEMA will host webinars for whole community exercise practitioners. The webinars will introduce the new exercise starter kits, providing stakeholders with an overview of the kits along with how to use them. The webinars are scheduled for:   Noon ET, May 12. 5 p.m. ET, May 20. 1 p.m. ET, May 28. 9 a.m. ET, June 7.   Each webinar will present the same content and a recording will be made available later on FEMA.gov. Visit the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Webinar webpage to register. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. May is Building Safety Month   The International Code Council launched the Building Safety Month initiative each May more than 40 years ago.  The annual educational campaign raises awareness about the importance of building codes to ensure safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.    This year’s weekly themes emphasize “Prevent, prepare, protect. Building Codes Save.” With ongoing social distancing and safety measures in mind, all planned events during the month will be held virtually. The weekly themes for the 2021 Building Safety Month are:   Week Two, May 10-16: Training the Next Generation Week Three, May 17-23: Water Safety Week Four, May 24-31: Disaster Preparedness   More information about Building Safety Month, including details regarding virtual events, can be found at: www.buildingsafetymonth.org.  In addition, initiatives throughout the month will be highlighted on using the hashtag #BuildingSafety365. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. The FEMA Office of External Affairs (OEA) provides this bulletin to highlight the agency's recent and upcoming program and policy activities and announcements. Feedback is welcome at fema-bulletin@fema.dhs.gov. Previous editions are available at www.fema.gov/fema-bulletin. This bulletin is not intended to provide a comprehensive list of policies that are open for public comment, nor does it describe all of the instructions or requirements necessary to submit a comment. For a complete list of instructions and deadlines please click the hyperlinks included. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities or services. To learn more about FEMA's Office of External Affairs, visit the FEMA website.